Audit process should also lead to stronger oversight of SOAR funding

House Appropriations Chair Ann Bollin today said she is encouraged by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s recent proposal to have the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) monitor earmarked grants awarded through the state budget.

Bollin, R-Brighton Township, said the move could signal the governor’s willingness to support broader efforts to expand oversight, including legislation Bollin is drafting that would require the OAG to audit economic development grants awarded through the state’s Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve (SOAR) fund.

“I am glad the governor now recognizes how important it is to have the Auditor General involved in reviewing state spending,” Bollin said. “If she supports this kind of accountability for budget earmarks, I hope that means she will also support my plan to strengthen oversight of the SOAR fund. The Auditor General is one of our most important tools for making sure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely.”

Bollin noted the governor’s new appreciation for the OAG stands in stark contrast to the governor’s budget recommendation last year to slash the Auditor General’s budget by 28 percent.

“I am hopeful this change of heart means the governor is finally taking the issue seriously,” Bollin said. “State government clearly needs more oversight.”

While the governor is now proposing to cap annual earmarks and involve the OAG in oversight, Bollin emphasized that House Republicans already took action earlier this year to reform the earmark process.

Under Bollin’s leadership, House Republicans established new safeguards to bring transparency to the budget process. In the past, direct grants were often slipped into the budget with little documentation or explanation. That practice ended this year with the creation of a more open, deliberate process to evaluate grant requests.

“House Republicans were the first to take real action this year to shine a light on how earmarks are handled,” Bollin said. “We made the process more transparent so that legislators and taxpayers can see exactly where the money is going and what it is being used for.”

Bollin said transparency and accountability continue to be top priorities.

“Whether it is a grant to a local nonprofit or a multimillion-dollar incentive to a major corporation, people want transparency and accountability,” Bollin said. “The reforms we have implemented and the oversight we continue to pursue are focused on restoring public trust and making sure every dollar is used effectively.”